Modern Family Bungalow: a house every American should look forward to.
Companies, industries, hotels and others have embarked on the strategies geared towards a green economy. But mind you, they’re not the only ones. In fact, the Zeeck family has conducted their green home education and the results have far exceeded all expectations. Who are the Zeeck’s?
The Zeeck family green contributions started off with the father himself, Andy Zeeck. Being his brother’s partner in Dwellings, Inc. (a prestigious interior design studio that provides assistance in designing a new home, etc.), Zeeck is going green and as much as his customers wanted him to be. He says, “I’m not an evangelist. I don’t go around calling people on it”. Indeed, he isn’t doing so and he shouldn’t be – because the house he built speaks for itself.
Last year, Zeeck and his wife, Tracey, built a green home for themselves. They named their house as the Modern Family Bungalow. Because of its structure and its other “greenish” features (such as a spray-foam insulated shell and superefficient windows which reduces heating and cooling costs; and soy-based stains on the concrete floors to low volatile organic compound paints throughout the home),the Zeeck’s are so proud that their green house has been widely recognized.
Being a house model in Mesta Park, the house was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) Gold-level certification. It was built on a 10-year vacant infill lot at 516 NW 21, and is Oklahoma’s first LEED Gold home. Additionally, it also got the federal government’s Energy Star rating and was named by the EPA as an Indoor airPLUS-qualified home.
In addition to Andy’s partnership with his brother, he also had his training from the Eco Institution which offers online green educational training on how to become an eco consultant to homeowners and small businesses.
From these trainings, Andy realized the great benefits of energy efficiency which led him to focus on it. Furthermore, he believes that the emphasis on energy efficiency is what makes him a good builder. It was a huge transformation on the part of the Zeeck’s as they continually reap the benefits that their Modern Family bungalow has offered them.
Andy admits that some people who are newbies on this green concept are reluctant because of the huge costs that it entails. But Andy says, “You pay somebody now or you pay somebody later” — buy cheap materials now and pay over time with higher energy costs, or pay more now for savings over the long term. “The green movement is definitely not the cheapest way to go,” he said. But, over time, he said, it’s “taking care of the earth and taking care of your pocketbook, to a degree, as well.”
Andy is right. To other builders, going green is challenging. But to Andy its fun – he gets to do something other than what he usually does and he is proud to do something not just for himself but for Planet Earth as well.
Andy Zeeck is an inspiration for green builders and all the others out there who are hesitant on trying this endeavor. Andy, his wife and the home they built are an epitome of what American families should be. Look at the news and you’ll surely realize that now is the time to go green, just like what the Zeeck’s did!
Wow these are the kinds of steps individuals and families should be taking! Andy is truly an inspiration. It is so great that more and more people are turning to green energy and sustainable building materials. I work on a project called The Resort at Isla Palenque. We are building a sustainable and eco friendly residence community on a gorgeous, pristine Panamanian island. As we research everything from sustainable building materials to energy efficiency to organic farms, we look to what people have done before us – the true innovators, like Andy. Thanks for sharing his story.